- Email: [email protected]
RISC launches rapid response service
Volume 21/Number 10/October 1990
Management wilt be held at Hydraulics Research, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, on 22 November, 1990. For further information contact Mrs Fiona M. Farnsworth, Hydraulics Research Limited, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 8BA, UK.
Air Pollution Update A 2-day updating course Environmental Air Pollution Update will be held in Sheffield on 29-30 November, 1990. For further information contact Mrs Kathleen Wainwright, University of Sheffield, CCVE, 65 Wilkinson Street, Sheffield S10 2G J, UK.
Boundary Problems The first International Conference on Computational Modelling of Free and Moving Boundary Problems will be held in Southampton, UK on 2-4 July, 1991. For further information contact Liz Newman, Computa-
The Oil Spill Recovery System The Oil Spill Recovery System (OSRC), developed by Viggo Amundsen of Nordic Water Supply AS and patented by Unitor/NWS/Amundsen, is the direct result of the Norwegian company's plans to develop a large fabric container capable of holding 300 000 m 3 of fresh water and of being towed by a ship worldwide. The OSRS has been developed for two distinct purposes: 1. the prevention of pollution from an oil spill resulting from a collision and/or grounding, and 2. for the recovery of oil from a spill. The system comprises a specially designed hi-tech fabric container which is capable of holding 30 000 t of oil. The fabric container is located in a special aluminium casing, which itself is lashed to a deck-mounted launching pad, very similar to a free-faU lifeboat. The container is connected to a flexible cargo hose, which in turn is connected (preferably permanently) to oil pumping equipment on board the vessel. The winch system for the flexible cargo hose is combined with the vessel's own mooring winch(s). If, however, the ship's pumping system cannot be used as a consequence of the collision/grounding, then a simple hook-up arrangement to a portable pump can be utilized. In the event of a grounding or collision, a switch on the bridge is activated, thereby launching the oil collection container over the side of the vessel. Oil from the ruptured tank(s) is immediately pumped into the container. In tankers, the cargo level is normally above the waterline. For safety reasons, the cargo tanks are usually pressurized with inert gas, resulting in overpressure. In the event of the vessel's hull being punc-
tional Mechanics Institute, Ashurst Lodge, Ashurst, Southampton SO4 2AA, UK.
Water Pollution The first International Conference on Water Pollution (Modelling, Measuring and Prediction) will be held in Southampton, UK on 3-5 September, 1991. For further information contact Liz Newman, Computational Mechanics Institute, Wessex Institute of Technology, Ashurst Lodge, Ashurst, Southampton SO4 2AA, UK.
Marina 91 The Second International Conference Marina 91 (Planning, Design and Operation) will be held in Istanbul, Turkey, on 8-10 October, 1991. For further information contact Liz Newman, Computational Mechanics Insti'tute, Wessex Institute of Technology, Ashurst Lodge, Ashurst, Southampton, SO4 2AA, UK.
tured, as in a grounding or collision, the oil cargo will leak into the sea, initially because the cargo level is higher than the sea level and, secondly, because the inert gas overpressure will increase the speed of the oil flow. The inert gas overpressure will decrease gradually as the tank empties. However, the oil will continue to flow into the sea until there is a balance between the cargo level and sea level. By that time, unfortunately, large quantities of oil will have spilt into the sea, resulting in serious oil pollution. The OSRS will stop the oil spill at an early stage by quickly launching the container and transferring the oil from the ruptured tank(s) to the container, before the oil is allowed to flow and mix freely with the sea. The time factor is critical. If this system had been installed on board Exxon Valdez, Unitor believes that within 7-10 min. two containers could have been launched, pumps activated and the transfer of oil started. In the event, it took 36 h before the first oil recovery systems arrived on the scene! Unitor believes that adequate protection for a VLCC will be provided by a container having 10-20% capacity of the tanker's total cargo capacity. A 30 000 m 3 system for a VLCC, with 125 m of flexible cargo hose, will occupy 15 m 2 of deck space and weigh 15 t. Costs of the system, including installation, will be between USS800 000 and Slm. The container will also serve as a storage tank when skimming oil/watermixture from an oil spill at sea.
RISC Launches Rapid Response Service Increased demand for specialized safety and environmental protection services has prompted the Rotterdam-based RISC Group to expand its range of 493
Marine Pollution Bulletin
Interior of the RISC mobile analytical laboratory MOBILAB.
activities. RISC now offers immediate emergency response to pollution threats, in parallel to its global firefighting service for marine and shore-based industries. RISC is a partnership between Smit International and Netherlands Security Group. There are four operating companies, recently renamed to reflect the broader scope of current activities. RISC Education and Training runs the largest fire and safety training centre in Europe, while a second RISC company maintains a pool of highly trained fire and safety personnel available to reinforce public and industrial fire brigades. Round-the-clock response to fires and other forms of emergency is offered by RISC Fire and Safety Control, a company geared for instant reaction to crisis, ashore or afloat. Stocks of firefighting and emergency equipment are maintained for rapid deployment, with pumpsets and foam systems containerized for immediate airlift anywhere in the world. This RISC Group company is also heavily engaged in hazard evaluation and contingency planning. Meanwhile, RISC Environmental Control, a recently established Group company, is offering a parallel range of services. It specializes in developing environmentally sound industrial strategies, for tasks ,,;arying from the identification of a safe disposal route for hazardous wastes to the containment and clean-up of hazardous spills. RISC Environmental Control operates MOBILAB, a sophisticated mobile laboratory providing rapid on-site sampling and analysis of contaminated soil, water and
494
air. The sampling team can provide first results within six hours of arrival at the scene. MOBILAB's comprehensive instrumentation is linked to an onboard computer system holding a database of over 100 000 substances. Beyond emergency response, MOBILAB is also an ideal base for the assessment of contaminated land earmarked for future redevelopment. Recent assignments for RISC companies have included a crude pipeline leakage in Rotterdam, emergency response following damage to a tank container holding allyl chloride, and the preparation of disposal plans for contaminated wastes arising from painting activities at shipyards.
Straw Mat Booms The Department of Transport's Marine Pollution Control Unit has developed a straw mat that can be used to clean up oil spills at sea. The mats were conceived by an ex-farmer, Mr K Frogbrook and led to the development of the 'Frogmat'. These mats can now be produced at a rate of 10 m min -t using a machine consisting of a bale chopper, a conveyor vetting mechanism and a Gehl round baler to roll up the mat. The machine was developed by Bernewode Designs of Aylesbury and produces mats 40 m × 1.2 m × 100 mm. They can be used to protect beaches from oil contamination, or as a boom defence for estuaries. Once they have been used, the mats could be burned at sea or re-rolled and compressed for use as an industrial fuel.
Management wilt be held at Hydraulics Research, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, on 22 November, 1990. For further information contact Mrs Fiona M. Farnsworth, Hydraulics Research Limited, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 8BA, UK.
Air Pollution Update A 2-day updating course Environmental Air Pollution Update will be held in Sheffield on 29-30 November, 1990. For further information contact Mrs Kathleen Wainwright, University of Sheffield, CCVE, 65 Wilkinson Street, Sheffield S10 2G J, UK.
Boundary Problems The first International Conference on Computational Modelling of Free and Moving Boundary Problems will be held in Southampton, UK on 2-4 July, 1991. For further information contact Liz Newman, Computa-
The Oil Spill Recovery System The Oil Spill Recovery System (OSRC), developed by Viggo Amundsen of Nordic Water Supply AS and patented by Unitor/NWS/Amundsen, is the direct result of the Norwegian company's plans to develop a large fabric container capable of holding 300 000 m 3 of fresh water and of being towed by a ship worldwide. The OSRS has been developed for two distinct purposes: 1. the prevention of pollution from an oil spill resulting from a collision and/or grounding, and 2. for the recovery of oil from a spill. The system comprises a specially designed hi-tech fabric container which is capable of holding 30 000 t of oil. The fabric container is located in a special aluminium casing, which itself is lashed to a deck-mounted launching pad, very similar to a free-faU lifeboat. The container is connected to a flexible cargo hose, which in turn is connected (preferably permanently) to oil pumping equipment on board the vessel. The winch system for the flexible cargo hose is combined with the vessel's own mooring winch(s). If, however, the ship's pumping system cannot be used as a consequence of the collision/grounding, then a simple hook-up arrangement to a portable pump can be utilized. In the event of a grounding or collision, a switch on the bridge is activated, thereby launching the oil collection container over the side of the vessel. Oil from the ruptured tank(s) is immediately pumped into the container. In tankers, the cargo level is normally above the waterline. For safety reasons, the cargo tanks are usually pressurized with inert gas, resulting in overpressure. In the event of the vessel's hull being punc-
tional Mechanics Institute, Ashurst Lodge, Ashurst, Southampton SO4 2AA, UK.
Water Pollution The first International Conference on Water Pollution (Modelling, Measuring and Prediction) will be held in Southampton, UK on 3-5 September, 1991. For further information contact Liz Newman, Computational Mechanics Institute, Wessex Institute of Technology, Ashurst Lodge, Ashurst, Southampton SO4 2AA, UK.
Marina 91 The Second International Conference Marina 91 (Planning, Design and Operation) will be held in Istanbul, Turkey, on 8-10 October, 1991. For further information contact Liz Newman, Computational Mechanics Insti'tute, Wessex Institute of Technology, Ashurst Lodge, Ashurst, Southampton, SO4 2AA, UK.
tured, as in a grounding or collision, the oil cargo will leak into the sea, initially because the cargo level is higher than the sea level and, secondly, because the inert gas overpressure will increase the speed of the oil flow. The inert gas overpressure will decrease gradually as the tank empties. However, the oil will continue to flow into the sea until there is a balance between the cargo level and sea level. By that time, unfortunately, large quantities of oil will have spilt into the sea, resulting in serious oil pollution. The OSRS will stop the oil spill at an early stage by quickly launching the container and transferring the oil from the ruptured tank(s) to the container, before the oil is allowed to flow and mix freely with the sea. The time factor is critical. If this system had been installed on board Exxon Valdez, Unitor believes that within 7-10 min. two containers could have been launched, pumps activated and the transfer of oil started. In the event, it took 36 h before the first oil recovery systems arrived on the scene! Unitor believes that adequate protection for a VLCC will be provided by a container having 10-20% capacity of the tanker's total cargo capacity. A 30 000 m 3 system for a VLCC, with 125 m of flexible cargo hose, will occupy 15 m 2 of deck space and weigh 15 t. Costs of the system, including installation, will be between USS800 000 and Slm. The container will also serve as a storage tank when skimming oil/watermixture from an oil spill at sea.
RISC Launches Rapid Response Service Increased demand for specialized safety and environmental protection services has prompted the Rotterdam-based RISC Group to expand its range of 493
Marine Pollution Bulletin
Interior of the RISC mobile analytical laboratory MOBILAB.
activities. RISC now offers immediate emergency response to pollution threats, in parallel to its global firefighting service for marine and shore-based industries. RISC is a partnership between Smit International and Netherlands Security Group. There are four operating companies, recently renamed to reflect the broader scope of current activities. RISC Education and Training runs the largest fire and safety training centre in Europe, while a second RISC company maintains a pool of highly trained fire and safety personnel available to reinforce public and industrial fire brigades. Round-the-clock response to fires and other forms of emergency is offered by RISC Fire and Safety Control, a company geared for instant reaction to crisis, ashore or afloat. Stocks of firefighting and emergency equipment are maintained for rapid deployment, with pumpsets and foam systems containerized for immediate airlift anywhere in the world. This RISC Group company is also heavily engaged in hazard evaluation and contingency planning. Meanwhile, RISC Environmental Control, a recently established Group company, is offering a parallel range of services. It specializes in developing environmentally sound industrial strategies, for tasks ,,;arying from the identification of a safe disposal route for hazardous wastes to the containment and clean-up of hazardous spills. RISC Environmental Control operates MOBILAB, a sophisticated mobile laboratory providing rapid on-site sampling and analysis of contaminated soil, water and
494
air. The sampling team can provide first results within six hours of arrival at the scene. MOBILAB's comprehensive instrumentation is linked to an onboard computer system holding a database of over 100 000 substances. Beyond emergency response, MOBILAB is also an ideal base for the assessment of contaminated land earmarked for future redevelopment. Recent assignments for RISC companies have included a crude pipeline leakage in Rotterdam, emergency response following damage to a tank container holding allyl chloride, and the preparation of disposal plans for contaminated wastes arising from painting activities at shipyards.
Straw Mat Booms The Department of Transport's Marine Pollution Control Unit has developed a straw mat that can be used to clean up oil spills at sea. The mats were conceived by an ex-farmer, Mr K Frogbrook and led to the development of the 'Frogmat'. These mats can now be produced at a rate of 10 m min -t using a machine consisting of a bale chopper, a conveyor vetting mechanism and a Gehl round baler to roll up the mat. The machine was developed by Bernewode Designs of Aylesbury and produces mats 40 m × 1.2 m × 100 mm. They can be used to protect beaches from oil contamination, or as a boom defence for estuaries. Once they have been used, the mats could be burned at sea or re-rolled and compressed for use as an industrial fuel.